University Regulations

A. EXPLANATION OF TERMS

1. a) The academic year runs from September 1 to August 31.

b) Semester means a period of approximately fourteen consecutive weeks during which the
University is in regular session and in which period there are at least twelve teaching weeks as
defined by the Senate. Normally the Fall Semester commences in early September, the Winter
Semester in early January, and the Spring Semester in early May.

c) Session means a period of approximately seven consecutive weeks during which the
University is in regular session in the Spring Semester and in which period there are at least six
teaching weeks as defined by the Senate. The first half of Spring Semester will be designated as
Intersession; the second half of Spring Semester will be designated as Summer Session.

2. a) A course is a unit of work in a particular subject normally extending through one semester
or session, the completion of which normally carries credit toward the fulfillment of the
requirements of certain degrees, diplomas or certificates.

b) A credit hour is the measure used to reflect the relative weight of a given course towards the
fulfilment of appropriate degree, diploma, certificate, major, minor, or other programme
requirements. Normally, a course has a credit value of three credit hours. A weight of one
credit hour normally means that the course meets for lectures one hour per week for the duration
of a semester or two hours per week for the duration of a session. The number of hours of
required instruction, outside of lecture time, such as laboratory instruction, tutorials, etc. may or
may not impact on the number of credit hours assigned to a particular course and academic units
may recommend to the Senate a greater or lesser whole number of credit hours for a particular
course.

c) In this Calendar, undergraduate courses are designated by four characters. The first three
characters are numeric. The fourth character may be numeric or alphabetic. The first character
signifies the level of the course. Where all four characters are numeric, the last three are for the
use of the Department and may signify course sequence and the like. If the last character is
alphabetic, special rules apply.

i. A six-credit hour linked course has the letter "A" or "B" as the fourth character. No credits or
points are given for the "A" part of a linked course until the "B" part is completed. Upon
completion of the "B" part, six credit hours are assigned. The grade and points for both parts of
the course are the same as those obtained for the "B" part.
ii. If the last character is "M", the course represents an entire semester's work in the Faculty of
Medicine and is assigned fifteen credit hours.
iii. If the last character is "X", the course represents an entire semester's work and is assigned
fifteen credit hours.
iv. If the last character is "F", the course is one which does not carry credit for a degree but is
intended to remedy specific academic weakness.
v. If the last character is "W", the course represents a Work Term in the co-operative programme
or a special project in certain of the professional schools and faculties (e.g. School of Physical
Education, Recreation, and Athletics, School of Nursing, Faculty of Engineering and Applied
Science, and Faculty of Business Administration). These courses are required components of
certain degree and diploma programmes but do not carry credit.
vi. Credit Hours: All courses in the programme are 3 credit hours, with the exception of the
Engineering Project Course which is 6 credit hours.

3. A prerequisite course is a course which must be successfully completed prior to registration
in the course for which it is required. A corequisite course is a course which must be taken
concurrently with the course for which it is required. In the event that a student drops a course
required as a corequisite, the student will be required to drop the course for which that
corequisite is required. In particular cases, a department head may convert a prerequisite to a
corequisite or waive it altogether.

4. A distance education course is a regular university course designed for people who wish to
study outside a traditional university setting. Instructors and students are separated by time
and/or space.

5. Programme means a series of courses, the completion of which, if other requirements are met,
qualifies the candidate for a degree, diploma or certificate, e.g. B.A. Degree Programme,
Education Diploma Programme.

6. When it is prescribed that students must COMPLETE a particular course, it is to be
understood that they shall, when required, attend lectures given in the course, perform laboratory
projects and exercises that may be assigned and any other written or oral exercises prescribed,
write or otherwise answer tests and examinations given in the course throughout the semester or
session, including any final examination, and shall obtain an overall passing grade in the course
in accordance with the prescribed evaluation procedures.